Heating unit for washing-machines



UNITED 'STATES IRVIN E. HARRIS, OF EVANSTON, WYOMING.

HEATING UNIT FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatent-@d dpr. 12, 192i.

n Application filed January 11,1, 1920. Serial No. 351,467.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, IRVIN H. HARRIS, citizen of the United States,residing at Evanston, State of l/Vyoming, have invented certain new anduseful Im rovements in Heating Units for Vlashingachines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in an electrical heatingattachment for washing machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide a washing machine with awater heating attachment of a unit' construction that is adapted to beplaced within a socket disposed in the washing-surface of the machine,and to be positively seated therein against dis lacement during thewashing of materia s within the machine.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide a hea-ting device ofthe character described that is formed along its lsurface with a washingarea conformingto the formation of the bottom of the washing machine, sothat the application of the heating attachment does not sacrifice any ofthe necessary washing surface of the machine.

Structually speaking, the invention preferably comprises a washingmachine formed in its bottom with a seat adapted to receive. anelectrical heating unit covered with a corrugated member lyingsubstantially flush with the corrugated surface of the washing machine.The unit is preferably permanently applied to and forms a part of thewashing machine and is of such a strength as to withstand on itscorrugated surface the necessary stresses incurred dun ing a scrubbingaction. rl`his manifestly enables water to be heated in the machine whenthe same is in use without lessening 'the area of the washing surface.

While the unit is, as'before stated, usually permanently applied to themachine, the invention has in mind the provision of a unit which iscomplete in itself and may be readily applied to any of the machines nowin use with little trouble, and may also be removed from such machineswhenever desirable.

In the accompanying drawings l have shown the preferred embodiment ofthe in-i vention but this disclosure is merely for the purpose ofillustration and not for limitation and l wish it to be understood thatymany changes can be made without depart- In the drawings Figure lrepresents a plan view locking at the bottom of the washing machine;

F ig. 2- is a sectional View taken through the machine.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral l designates awashing machine which may be of any well known construction. The machineis provided with a hinged or removable top 2, to enable materials to beinserted therein and removed therefrom and a suitable bottom portion 3,the surface of which is formed with lateral corrugations 4. 'Whilelateral/corrugations are disclosed as constituting the washing surfaceit will be apparent that the surface of the machine may consist ofraisedl washing elements of any desired configuration.

There is formed within the bottom of the machine a socket 5 constitutinga countersunk pocket for receiving a heating element which is preferablyof a unitary construction that is adapted to be applied to the machine.It is particularly desirable to heat the water while in the machine,thereby eliminating the trouble of carrying heated water from one pointto another, and at the same time to prevent the heating element fromlessening or decreasing the washing surface of the machine. `With thisin mind there is disposed within the machine the electrical unit 5,having a heating plate S, of a fiat resisting formation seated upon theinsulating plate 7. Arranged above the heating plate 6 are therelatively flat circular plates 8, 9 and l0 through which the heatdeveloped radiates to the interior of the machine, thereby heating thewater therein during the washing action, and maintaining the same in theproper heated condition. The plates are all preferably of a metallicconstructionl and become very hot when electrical energy is introducedthereto through the conducting wires 11 extending from any suitablesource of energy.

ln the drawings l have disclosed the heating unit as being of a circularformation, the different elements thereof being retained in position bythe insulated confining ring 12 serving to not only retain such elementsin theirproper association but to also sup-- port the unit in the pocket5 against lateral dis lacement.

. highlyimportant feature of the present invention resides in theapplication of the plate 10 to the attachment, Which plate is'corrugated so as to conform to the corrugations 4 of the bottom of theWashing machine, and constitutes a Washing surface capable ofwithstanding any pressure placed thereon. It will be apparent that the.uti1ization of the heating plates does not sacrin lice any oftheWaShing surface of the machine inasmuch as such plate is formeditself with a suitable Washing surface that may be of any configurationfrom which the most beneficial results can be secured.

It Will be understood that While l have disclosed a relatively flatresistance plate (3, to which the electrical energy is introduced, acoil or a like heating element may be employed in lieu of the resistanceplate should this construction be found more desirable. However, theplate 6 adds to the strength of the unit and Where the same is to With.-stand a Washing pressure it is more desirable than he'ating coils.

'llhe unit is intended to be applied to a washing machine at the time ofits manufacture and generally is a permanent part of the machine. lt maybe secured in place by fastening elements 12 coperating with the bottomof the machine and the unit so as to avoid any possibility of the unitbecoming disengaged from the machine. lt is likewise apparent thatinasmuch as the unit is of a self-contained structure, the same may beapplied with ease to any Washing machine novv in use by forming in thebottom f thereof a suitable seat to receive the same,

and that -the application of the unit does not serve to sacrlfice themuch needed roughenedsurface of the machine.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat I claim is l. A washing machinehaving a bottom provided with a socket therein, and a corrugated surfacesurrounding said socket, said socket being of circular formation, and anelectrical Water heating device seated Within the socket and having aresistance element therein, said water heating device being of acircular formation, and engaging the side Walls of the socket andprovided along its upper surface with a transversely corrugated plateconforming to the upstanding Washing elements in the bottom of themachine.

2. Washing machine having a bottom provided with a corrugated surfaceand a socket formed therein surrounded by said surface, an electricalWater heating unit adapted to be placed in said socket and maintained inposition by the Walls thereof, said unit having a surface of corrugatedforma.- tion` corresponding to the formation of the bottom of themachine, so that the entire bottom presents a uniformly fashionedWashing surface.

3. Washing machine having a bottom provided with raised separatedwashing projections, and a socket disposed within said bottom surroundedby said raised projections, an electrical unit adapted to be inscrtedwithin said socket and having a resistance element and an electricalconnection therewith, said unit being provided with a plate formed tocorrespond to the formation of the surface of the washing vmachine sothat the entire bottom of the machine is uniform in formation.

ln testimon)v whereof l affix my signature.

ltRl/YlN H. HRRS.

